President Nana Akufo-Addo has described individuals that incite religious division as harmful to Ghana’s progress. He has, thus, cautioned against religious conflict and strife in Ghana, emphasizing such are unnecessary.
Speaking to chiefs, Imams, and residents of Kyebi in the Eastern Region ahead of the December 7 election, the President stressed that such actions undermine the Ghana’s stability and must be nipped in the bud.
He said this in relation to some reports stating that some pastors are calling on their congregation to reject the New Patriotic Party(NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia because a Muslim cannot rule Ghana.
“A pastor has said that Christians should not vote for Bawumia because he is a Muslim. Are Muslims not human beings? Ghana is a religiously tolerant country, and we have coexisted all these years.
“We don’t want religious conflict and strife in Ghana. We want religious harmony. We don’t want people who are divisive. People who seek to sow division on religious, ethnic and tribal lines are nation-wreckers of our country. We want people who will encourage the unity and harmony of Ghana, not division,” he emphasized.
President Akufo-Addo denounced the comments and urged Ghanaians to turn out in large numbers on Saturday, December 7, to vote peacefully and in unity.
He believes that doing this would help Ghana maintain its reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa.
“If you don’t have anything proper to say about your candidate, don’t raise tribal or religious considerations. Ghana is far from that and that is why we are a beacon of peace, of stability, of democratic engagement in the whole of Africa.
“We don’t want someone who will come and sow discord among us so go out and vote on Saturday and let the world know that Ghanaians are religious tolerant,” he added.